Bridgeport helps Hershey cause
Published on April 9, 2004 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Hershey Bears News Release
Despite outshooting the Sound Tigers 30-8 into the third period Thursday night, Norfolk loses at Bridgeport to keep the BEARS one point back of the final playoff spot in the East. If the Admirals lose tonight in Binghamton, HERSHEY can clinch a playoff spot Saturday night at GIANT Center.
With the win, the Sound Tigers, who are unbeaten in their last six games at 5-0-1 and on a three-game winning streak, pulled to within two points of the Philadelphia Phantoms in the race for the East Division Championship. Philadelphia has one game in hand on the Sound Tigers and holds the first tiebreaker should they finish the regular season tied, but the teams will face-off at Bridgeport's Arena at Harbor Yard this Saturday at 7:05 p.m.
Flirting with their season-low for shots on goal in a single game, which was 14 in 3-2 road loss to Norfolk on January 11th, the Sound Tigers scored on their 15th and 16th shots of Thursday's game in a 36-second span late in the third period to pull out the win. First, Mike Souza, who spent parts of three seasons with the Admirals, scored his ninth goal of the season, his fourth since re-signing with Bridgeport, in just his second game back from an eye injury with 2:39 left to play off assists from Derek Bekar and Cail MacLean. Then, Martin Kariya notched his eighth of the year, his third in as many games, at the 17:57 mark off assists from Jody Robinson and Luke Curtin.
Norfolk pulled Netminder Craig Anderson in favor of an extra attacker with just over one minute left to play but could not tie the game.
Kochan, who is now on a three-game win streak and is unbeaten in five straight games at 4-0-1, was the first star of the game, Souza was the second, and Kariya was the third. Anderson made 14 saves as the Admirals had a 37-16 shots on go advantage. Norfolk was 0 for 3 on the power play while the Sound Tigers were 0 for 2.
The BEARS host Norfolk Saturday and Philadelphia Sunday at GIANT Center to wrap up the regular season. Face-off Saturday is at 7:00 p.m., with Sunday's tilt with the Phantoms beginning at 5:00 p.m.
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